Thesaurus results for BYSTANDERS

bystanders

noun

plural of bystander

as in spectators

someone who sees or watches something bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bystanders The American Academy of Pediatrics recognized this shift in a landmark 2016 policy statement calling for pediatricians to actively engage fathers as caregivers, not bystanders. — Nishant Pandya, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026 In those exceptions, officers had weigh risks to the safety of other motorists or bystanders. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 In both incidents, innocent bystanders put their own lives at risk trying to help. — Logan Smith, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026 In Rushville, Hal and John learn about the death of what appear to be victims of a mass shooting, but the civilians are actually aliens and one of the bystanders is of extraterrestrial origin as well, with a nefarious agenda. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 Request the names and numbers of any bystanders who saw the incident or noticed the wet floor prior to your fall. — Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 Her family and bystanders then jumped in to help the woman, who remained underwater for several minutes. — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 So, what does this mean for the markets, and us bystanders, in this awful situation? — Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Police said the actions of bystanders, employees and first responders helped save lives during the attack. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders

Noun

What to read next Sense of gratitude The Red Rock Artemis II stage event had the four Artemis II crew members facing a huge gathering of supportive spectators.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Roughly 30 spectators, many of them Antioch members, observed Friday's hearing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of spectators

Noun

At about 82° above the horizon, many observers will need to lie on a blanket or sunbed to comfortably view the solar corona, which will dominate a dark sky.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
These observations sound familiar because at several times in our history, observers have declared a veritable crisis among American men.

— Michael Kimmel, Time, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of observers

Noun

The company said its network reaches more than 700 million viewers in India and is distributed in over 150 countries.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
The series was a priority for Onyx, which pushed for the addition of a new series regular and a supporting cast to help attract new viewers, sources told me at the time.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of viewers

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“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bystanders

noun

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